TRANSITIONS

Quicksteps: Bryce Davison, Battle of the Blades and Summer Skate 2011

A few weeks after Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin announced the end of their four-year pairs partnership, Coughlin commenced training with his new partner, Caydee Denney.

Following the retirement of her former partner Jeremy Barrett in February, Denney relocated from Florida to the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“We realize we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we will lean on our experience as pairs skaters,” Coughlin said.

Denney and Coughlin, who will be coached by Dalilah Sappenfield, are confident they will be ready to compete next season. “I’m thankful that Caydee and John had a successful tryout, and that this partnership came together,” Sappenfield said.

Canada’s Bryce Davison is at loose ends these days following the dissolution of his eight-year pairs partnership with Jessica Dubé in March.

Davison said he was completely taken by surprise when Dubé told him she was moving in another direction. “She said that we are having too much difficulty training together and … we needed a change,” Davison told CottageCountryNow.ca. “She said that not skating with me was a better idea … it was definitely a shock.”

In May, Dubé, 23, announced that she has formed a new pairs partnership with 21-year-old Québec native Sébastien Wolfe.

Wolfe and his previous partner Tara Hancherow placed second at the national junior level in 2010 and 2011. Wolfe is also a solid singles skater, having finished eighth in the senior men’s division at the 2010 Canadian Championships.

DOUBLE TAKE

On May 9, just weeks after announcing their retirement, Italy’s top ice dance team Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali have had a change of heart and are now planning to return to the competitive arena next season.

“Our decision to retire came in a moment of sadness and delusion following the result of the European Championships, and tiredness, more mental than physical, after the previous Olympic season and all the physical problems which plagued Fede,” Scali wrote in a post on the duo’s official website.

At press time neither had returned to their U.S. training base and coach Natalia Linichuk was unable to say exactly when Faiella and Scali would commence training.

ANOTHER BATTLE?

Fans are eagerly awaiting confirmation that the Canadian production of “Battle of the Blades” will return for a third season.

According to the CBC network, an official announcement will be made when the fall schedule is released, which is likely to be sometime in June.

While a number of the fan favorites will be returning to the show, the producers plan to spice it up a little with the addition of some international talent.

Rumor has it that Jamie Salé is not planning on joining the cast of the show this season.
Stay tuned.

SUMMER SKATE

With the announcement by the International Skating Union that the annual competition held in Thornhill, Ont. will become a B-level international event this season, chances are good that some of the world’s top skaters will attend to test out their new programs.

No ice dance events are currently slated to take place at this competition.

At press time no information was available on the Skate Canada-Central Ontario website with respect to Summer Skate 2011, but no doubt lineups and schedules will be posted in the coming weeks. For tickets and all other information go to: http://www.skatecanadacentralontario.com/2010-11%20eventsresults.htm